Salsify.

De un vistazo

Nivel de cuidados

Fácil

Tipo de planta

Biennial vegetable

Luz

Full sun

Luz en interior

Sol directo

Riego

Cada 3 a 7 días

Tamaño adulto

3 to 4 feet tall

Ritmo de crecimiento

Medio

Rusticidad

USDA 4 a 9

Floración

Late spring to early summer

Cuidados

Grow this plant in deep, loose soil to ensure the roots develop straight and long. Watch for aphids on the flower buds and keep the soil consistently moist to prevent the roots from becoming woody. Harvest the roots in late autumn after the first frost for the best flavor.

Riego

Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged to encourage steady root growth.

Abonado

Apply a balanced organic fertilizer once during the growing season to support root development.

Poda

Remove spent flower stalks if you want to focus energy on root growth rather than seed production.

Trasplante

This plant is typically grown directly in the garden and does not require repotting.

Suelo

Deep, loose, well drained soil

pH del suelo

6.0 to 7.5

Temperatura

-20 a 35°C

Humedad

40 a 70%

Tolerancia a la sequía

Moderada

Longevidad

Biennial, typically 2 years

Resistencia a ciervos y conejos

Moderada

Seguridad

Personas

The plant is generally considered non-toxic and is commonly consumed as a root vegetable.

Niños

The milky sap can be messy and potentially irritating if rubbed into eyes or onto sensitive skin.

Alérgenos por contacto

The milky latex sap may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Alérgenos en el aire

Pollen may cause mild reactions in those with severe grass or composite allergies.

Comestibilidad

Ensure you correctly identify the plant as wild-harvested roots can be confused with toxic lookalikes.

Cómo identificarla

• Long, narrow, grass like leaves
• Large, purple, dandelion shaped flowers
• Fleshy, tapering, cream colored taproot
• Milky sap present in stems

Altura

0,6 a 1,2m

Anchura

0,2 a 0,4m

Hojas

blue-green, gray-green, deciduous

Flores

purple, violet, 4 a 8cm

Frutos

brown, Summer

Problemas frecuentes

• Rust — Fungal infection causing orange pustules on the undersides of leaves.
• Aphids — Small insects that cluster on tender new growth and flower buds.

Cómo cultivarla

Propagación

seed

Cuándo plantar

spring, autumn

Cuidados en invierno

Leave the foliage to die back naturally in late autumn. If you live in a very cold climate, a light mulch can protect the crown.

En maceta

It is not ideal for containers due to its long taproot, but it can grow in a very deep pot.

Plant in well-drained, loose soil to ensure the taproots grow straight and long.

Buenas compañeras

• Carrot — They share similar soil requirements and root development patterns.
• Lettuce — It grows well alongside leafy greens without competing for space.

Especies parecidas

• Tragopogon dubius — It is a related species with yellow flowers instead of purple.
• Diente de león — It shares a similar seed dispersal mechanism and rosette growth habit.

Ciencia

Familia

Asteraceae

Género

Tragopogon

Orden

Asterales

Clase

Magnoliopsida

Distribución natural

Mediterranean region

Conservación

It is not of conservation concern and is often considered a naturalized weed in many regions.

It thrives in disturbed soils and open meadows where it can compete for light.

Valor para la fauna

nectar source

Polinizadores

abejas, mariposas

Usos

culinary root vegetable, ornamental garden plant, edible young shoots

Taxonomía cotejada con GBIF.

Lo que más preguntan

When should I harvest the roots?

Harvest the roots in late autumn of the first year or early spring of the second year.

Why do my flowers close so early?

This is a natural behavior, as the blooms are light-sensitive and close once the sun reaches a certain angle.

De dónde viene el nombre

Tragopogon comes from the Greek words for goat and beard, referring to the hairy pappus of the seeds. Porrifolius means leek-leaved, describing the appearance of the foliage.

Bueno saberlo

• The roots are known as salsify or oyster plant because of their mild flavor.
• The seed heads are large, spherical, and resemble dandelion clocks.
• It was historically cultivated in Mediterranean gardens for centuries.
• The name oyster plant comes from the flavor of the cooked root.
• It is a biennial that forms a rosette in its first year.